ROMANTIC - Tone Poem/Nationalism/Programme Music

Many composers continued to write SYMPHONIES during the ROMANTIC era, which tended to be on a larger scale (both in terms of length, and the size of orchestra needed to play them) than CLASSICAL SYMPHONIES.

In addition, a new large-scale orchestral form developed, known as the TONE POEM or SYMPHONIC POEM. This is an orchestral piece in a single movement (as opposed to the multiple movements of the SYMPHONY), which tells a story or paints a picture in music. Such pieces can therefore be described as PROGRAMME MUSIC, which is a common feature of much ROMANTIC music.

The TONE POEMS in this playlist also illustrate another feature of ROMANTIC music, particularly later in the era: NATIONALISM. Many composers, particularly if their country was ruled by another country (eg. Czechs ruled by Germans), would use music to assert their national pride and patriotism. They might, for example, base an OPERA on a national folk story (eg. Dvorak's 'Rusalka'), or include folk tunes in a Tone Poem. 

All of the TONE POEMS in this playlist are either inspired by folk stories, or use folk tunes from the composers' respective countries.